Self-propelled vehicle.



N0. 889,839.v PATENTED JUNE 2, 1908. J. WILKINSON.

SELF PROPELLED VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED EAR. 11, 1904- I 4 BHBETS BHEBT 1.

I BY

I ATTORNEYS No. 889,839. I v

' J. WILKINSON.

SELF PROPBLLBD VEHICLE. APPLICATION FILED 11.11.1904.

PATENTED JUNE 2, 1908."

4 snnMs-snnnw WITNESSES: INVENTOR v v ATTORNEYS PATENTED JUNE 2, 1908 J. WILKINSON. 2 SELF PROPELLED VEHICLE. APPLICATION FILED 11111.11, 1904.

4 sn nTs-snnnr %INVENTOR ATTORNEYS No. 889,839. v 'PATENTED JUNE 2, 1908 J. WILKINSON;

' SELF PROPELLBD VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED KARI 11, 1904.

T all whom it may -conbem."

' UNITED srrnrnsrnrnnr onnron.

JOHN WILKINSON, OF s'YnAoUsE, NEW YORK, AssIGNoR TO H. HIFRANKVLIN MA NUFACT'UR- m COMPANY, or SYRACUSE, NE YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

.sELF-Pnor'nLLnn VEHICLE.

ipecification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 2, 1908.

. vApplication filed'liarch "11, 1904. Serial No. 197,664.

Be it known that I, JOHN'WIILKINSON,I, of

, Syracu'se,-.in the county-of Onondaga'and State of New York-have inven'ted'a certain new and useful Self-PropelledVhicle, of which the following is a specification,

My invention'relates to self-propelled ve i I hicles'of the explosion-motor typefand one of effects a maximum efficiency in driving the the primary objects thereof is to provide a construction and, arrangement of parts which vehicle, or automobile.

A further object of the invention is to provide compact and highly efficient means,.

particular y applicable toautomobiles or motor-car constructions for supplying the power-generating medium to the mechanism utilizingthe same, and for disposing of the waste afterthis medium has performed its ment of the component function. v

, Otherobjects of the invention will appear,

and the many advantages of the same be ap precia'ted,

as the vehicle is more fully d1sclosed. n

. "To effect thetobjects' sought, thejinven tion includes the combination and'arrangearts to be herein-- -after setforth and particu arly pointed out in the claims. H

in all the views.

Iii describingthis invention, reference is" had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters'designate corresponding parts planof a senretense support for a single occupant being shown at the rear of the steering wheel." ,Fig. 2 is a top plan of the motor or engines, and contiguous partsl Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical sectional views taken ion lines AA and B'B,' Fi .2.' I

%n the illustrated embodiment of my invention, 1 designates the frame of an automobile or motor-car, 2 the front sup orting wheels, and 3 the rear or driving whee s', said frame and wheels andthe connections be tween the samecomprising a running gear.

' The type .of power-generating mechanism shown in the accompanying drawings comprises a battery of vertically-disposed fourcycle explosive engines arranged sideby side in a rectilinear line at the front portion of the vehicle and supported preferably by the frame 1. The cranks of the engines are the pistons.

usually carried by a common-shaft 4, are ar ranged with the outer cranks balancing the inner cranks, and are inclosed by a casing 5;

common to all of the engines, and comprismg a top side or wall 6, a bottom wall, and

.side or end heads 7 provided with bearings 8,-

in which the crank-shaft 4 is journal-ed. Thecylinders 9 of the engines are air-cooled and preferably unjacketed, are equidistantly s aced from each other, are supported upon t etop 6 of the casing 5, and are each preferably provided" with laterally-projecting flanges at their lower ends through which suitable fastening means extend to securely bolt the sameto the top 6 Pistons10 of any desirable construction are movable in the cylinders 9 and suitably connected to the cranks of the shaft 4.

'lhe' areas of the external'and internalsurfaces of each cylinder, are so relatively proportioned that undue heating of the walls thereof is prevented during the use of the automobile, even though the same ispropelledat high speed. To this end, the internal surface of each-cylinder is reduced increased to a maximum. The reduction of the internal surfacesof thefcylinders is greatly' facilitated by arranging the inlet- 'and exhaust ports thereof substantially lengthwise of the cylinders with their inner ends in line with the piston-chambers and '0 enin directl therefrom, thus avoidin P g Y s the presence of lateral, or othenextensions .of the'riistoii-receivdng chambers to provideconduits for the incoming and outgoing td a minimum, and the external surface is gases, and'rendering it possible to form said chambers as illustrated of substantially uniform diameter from end 'to end,- and with a minimum space in thecylmde'rs above or be yond the limit of the compressing 'strokesof the areas of theinternal and external surfaces of the cylinders is further facilitated by' The desired'diiference between 12 13 iii-casings 14 removably secured to said main portions and having openings 15 16 in their sides connected to inlet-and exhaustlieads 1i, and-by providing the peripheries of said heads and sides of the cylinders with encircling radiating projections 19.

An inlet-chamber26 is connected to an passages 17 18 in the main portions of the inlet-openings or passages 17 of the cylinders inlet-conduit 27 providedwith a throttlevalve 28, and with suitable means, as a carburetor 29, for supplying explosive mi sany desirable means, as bolts ensga ged. with the cylinders 9. The upright wall of the chamber 26 adjacent to the cylinders 9 is-provided with a plurality of openings or pas sages communicating, respectively, with the heads 11. An exhaust-chamber 30 is arranged at the opposite, side of, and below,

. the Cylinders 9 and is respectively connected by pipes or passages 31 to the exhaustpassages 18 of the cylinder-heads 11. Said chamber 30 discharges into a single conduit 310 provided with a muffler 32. v i

The explosion of the charges fed to the cylinders is effected by any desirable means, here shownas electrodes .39 40, removably held in the upper ends of the cylinders and connected by-electric conductors, not illustrated, to a spark-coil 41, and to make and break mechanism 410 not necessary to' describe herein, "said spark-coil and make and break mechanism being connected independently to the respective cylinders for controlling the explosions therein. I

One end of the'crank-shaft 4 projects heyond the casing 5' and is provided with a llywheel 42,.andthe opposite end thereof, Fig.

4,- is extended beyond the casing 5into a shell 43 fixed to the casing 5, and forming the inclosing casing of a 'power-transmit1ing mechanism or transmission gearing similar M my pending application, Serial' No- 121,454,

to'th'at shown, described and claimed in filed Aug. 29,1902. The end of the shaft 4 within the shell 43, forms theilriving memher of the mechanism for trarismittingmotion to the driving wheels 3, and is provided with members 44, 45, 46, fixed thereto and serving o transmit motion'to as procket-' wheel 47-iornnng a driven member, which is connected by a chain 48, or other transmitting means, to the driving wheels 3, is mounted on a hub 49 fixed to the casings 5, 43, and is movable on an axis substantially coincident with that of the crank, shaft. A member 50 arranged concentric with the axis of the shaft 4 and the members 44, 45, 46, is supported indirectly on the end of the shaft 4 within the shell 43, is locked at will to the member 46, and carries pinions 51 engaging .with the member 45 and with'a loose internal gear 52 supported-indirectly on the shaft 4 and also engaging pinions 53 carried by a part fixed to the driven member 47. shaft 4, and the members 47 and 5S, revolve at different speeds than said shaft and the members 44, 45, 46, fixed thereto, for'revolving the driven member 47 in diiferent directions and at a pluralitv of speeds' It IS Said members50 52 supported by the thought unnecessary, to hereiii -describe in detail the construction andv operation of said i-power-trimsmitting mechanism, since the ture, and s supported crosswise of the d pper ends of the cylinders 9'at one'side thereof by forms no part of my present invention. A particular advantage of' my vehicle is that by the use of a battery of engines-or cylinders, as shown and described, each cyl1n-' der propels only its proportionateamount of the total weight, or in other .words, erforms but a part of the-work which wou d be rebut -Jone.

greater. intervals between the explosions 111 any one of the cylinders, than would be the case if themotor. included buta single cylinder only, and was developing equal power.

Consequently, a maximumtime is afforded forth'edisposal of the heat absorbed during the power-stroke.

of my; vehicle, thethrottle-valve is arranged to restrict the In the practical use supply of explosive mixture' so that the average charge, is under the max mum ca pacity of the motor or engines and, conse- .quently, the motoris ordinarily used much below its greatest capability, but when de-- sired, the maximum chargemay b88111- plie'd, and the power develop ed will e greatly increasedfthus rendering the motor or engine highly flexible and adding to thepracticability and efficiency of my vehicle. Moreover, the Work required of the powergeneratmg mechanism of a standard commercial self-propelled'w'ehicle, eve-nit used.

devised, unless a circulating cooling medium, as water, or' an auxiliary cooling means, asa fan are-used, but by utilizing a number of cylinders as described capable of generating an aggregate power greater than that desired, a particularly practicalmechanism is obtained, the cylinders of which can .be cooled by air and without the use of a circulating cooling medium, as water..

My invention in the art a vehicle including an explosion presents for the first time 115- four cyclemoton for propelling the. same,

having a plurality of cylinders cooled'by air even though the automobile is driven at a high speed, and as is obvious, such a vehicle dis enses with the use of water containing jac ets, awater-cooling medium and circulatting medium and circulating means therefor,

thus augmenting the simplicity and efficiency of the vehicle, reducing to a minimum the liability of cold temperatures interfering with the use thereof, and decreasing the attention and care necessary in propelling the same, andtlie Weight thereof.

Theconstruction and operation of my veh cle Wlll now be readily understood upon lSG - reference to the foregoing description and 1 substantially the. accompanying drawings, and it will be particularly noted that more or less changes may be made in the component parts there- 5 of, without departing from the spirit of myinvention. 7 I

-. Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is 4 1. In avehicle, the combination ofthe running gear, an inte'rnalcombusti0n engine provided with a plurality of air-cooled cylinders and with pistons movable therein,

. and a crank-shaft common to all of the cylinders, the cylinders being arranged side by side lengthwise of said shaft and in sub;

stantially upright planes at the front of the running gear, and each being provided with external radiating pro ect1ons, and powertransmitting means connecting the running gear and the engine for propelling the vehicle substantially as and for the purposedescribed. I i

2. Ina vehicle, the combination of the ru'nniuglgear, an-internal-coinbustion engine provided with a plurahty of EI-lT-COOlGd.

cvlinders'and with pis tonsimovable therein,

a eranleshaft common to all of the cylinders,"

the cylinders being arranged side by side lengthwise of said shaft and in substantially upright planes at the front of the running-gear, and each being provided with extcrnalradiating projections, and a single inlet passage connected independently to the cylinders, and power-transmitting means connecting the running ear and the engine for propelling the 'vehic le, substantially "as and for the purpose described, I

3, In a vehicle, the combination of the 40 running gear, .an internal-combastion engine provided with a pluralityof air-cooled unjacketed cylinders and with pistons movable therein", a crankshaft common to all of the cylinders the -cylii1ders being ar- 4'5 ranged side by sidelengthwise of said shaft and in substantially upright planes the -front of the running gear, and'a single inletpassa'geconnected independently to the cylinders; and power-transmitting means 5 connect-mg the runmnggear and the engine for propelling. the vehicle, sul'istantially as and for the; purpose specified.

4. Ina motor-vehicle of the explosion motor type, the combination of the running gear, a battery of engines arranged at the front of the running gear, including a casing common to all of the engines, air-cooled vertically-arranged cylinders supported upon the top 'of the casing,' and each provided so withexternal radiating projections, a crankshaft journaled in the casing, and connections between the pistons of the en ines and the shaft, .and 'power-transmitting mechanism interposed btdween ihe running gear 35 and the shaft for propelling the vehicle.

as and-for the purpose set forth-.. I i Y 5. In a motor-vehicle of the explosion' and supporting wheels; of a batteryof engines arranged in a rectil near hneacross a common to all of the engines, .equidistantlyported-upon the topof the casing, each of said cyl nders being unjacketed and pro-, vided with external radiating projections,

ting mechanism interposed between the shaft and the wheels, substantially as and for the purposedeseri-b'edQ 6 .In a, mot-or vehicle of the explosionmotor type, the combination with a frame and suaport-ingwheels; of a battery of engines aving vertically-disposed cylinders arranged in a line at the front portion of the the cylinders arranged at one side of the cylindersand having separate connections therewith, means for supplying explosive mixture to the chamber, and a crank-shaft driven by the pistons of the engines, and means. for transmitting the movement of and for the purpose specified.

7. In a motor-vehicle of the explosion- -moto1". type, the combination with a frame and supporting wheels; of a battery of 'en gines having vertically-disposed cylinders arranged in a line at the front portion of the frame, means at one side of the cylinders for inders, means at the other side of the cylinders for receiving the exhaust gases, said means also having separate connections with the cylinders, and acrankshaft driven by the pistons of the engines, and meansfor to the chamber, an exhaust-chamber common to all of the cylinders arranged at the other side of the cylinders, and a cranks and means for transmitting motion of said shaft to the wheels,substantially as and for i the purpose set forth. 1 l 9. In a motonvehiele of'the explosionmotor type, the combination with a frame front portionof the frame, including a casing spaced vertically-arranged cylinders, :sup-

a crank-shaft journal-led in the ends ofthe; casing, and connections between the pistons of the engines and the shaft, and 't'rans'r'nit frame, an inlet-chamber common to all ofsupplying an explosive mixture, saidmeans' having separate connections with the cyltransmitting motion of.said shaft to the.

' with, means for supplying explosive mixture shaft driven by the pistons of the engines,

said shaft to the wheels, substantially as' motor type, the combination with the running gear, of a battery of engines having vertically-disposed air-cooled cylinders arranged in a line at the front portion of the running gear, each cylinder having its .cylindrical, wall provided with external'radiating projections, and having its cylindrical wall and the main portion of its head formed integrahand its'head provided with removable means including inlet and exhaust ports,

and valves for controlling the fiow through 7 said ports, and a crank-shaft common to-all of the cylinders, and power-transmitting means connecting the crank-shaft andthe, running gear for propelling the vehicle, sub

stantially as and for the urpos'e set forth;

10 In a motor-vehic e of the explosion.- motor type, the combination with a frame and supporting wheels; of a battery Qf engines comprising a casing 'su ported by theframe and including a top wal and end walls, vertically-disposedcylinders arranged side by side lengthwise of the casing sup orted at their lower ends onthe top Wall of t e latter,

means for transmittingthe movement of said shaft to the wheels, substantially as and for the purpose described.

11. Ina motor-vehicle of the explosionmotor type, the combination with a frame and su porting wheels, of a battery of enaving vertically-disposed cylinders arranged in a line at the front. portion of the frame, each cylinder having its cylindrical wall provided with external radiating pro jections, and having its cylindrical wall and the main portion of its head formedintegrad, and its head provided with removable means including inlet and exhaust ports, and valves for. controlling the ,jflOWf through said ports, means at one side of the cylinders for supplying an explosive mixture, said means having separate" connections with the respective inlet ports ofwthe cylinders, means at the other side ofthe, cylinders for receiving the exhaust gases,vsaid means having separate connections with the respective, exhaust. ports-of the-cylinders, 'and a crank-shaft driven" by the pistons of the engines, and

means for transmitting motion of said shaft to the wheels, substantially as and for the I purpose described. a

12. In a vehicle, the combination of therunning gear, an internal-combustion engine provided with a plurality of air-cooled cylinders and with plstons movable therein, the

cylinders being arranged side by side insub stantially upright planes at the front of the running gear, a single inlet-pipe, a throttlevalve, and a mufflerywith a spark-coil and make and break mechanism, each connected independently to. the respective cylinders,

and power transmitting means connecting the runmn gear and the engine-for propelling the ve iicle, substantially as d f the purpose specifi d 1 In a vehiclaf-the combination of the running gear and an internal-combustion engine having .a crankshaft and pistons connected thereto; with a transmission-gearing having members differentially-revoluble by i the crank-shaft on an'axis coincident with that ofsaid shaft, and power-transmitting means connecting the runninggea'rand the driven memberof the transmlssion-gearing, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

' 14. In a vehicle, the combination of therunninggear and an internal-combustion .90

enginehaving a frame, t t-crankshaft journa ed in the frame and havingits ends extended beyond the'same, and pistons connected to the crank-shaft; with a fly-wheel supported on one end of the crank shaft, a transmission gearing connected to the other end of the crank-shaft and having members differentially-revoluble by the crank-shaft on an axis coincident with that of said shaft, and power-transmitting means connecting;

the running gear and the driven member of the transmission'-gearing,- substantially as and for the purpose specified.

152 In a vehicle, thecombination .of the running gear and an internal-combustion en inehaving a frame, a crank-shaft jour- .na ed in the frame and havin 'ItS ends ex,-

tended beyond the same, ant pistons-connected to thecrank-shaft; with a fiy-wheel supportedlon one end-of thecrank-shaft, a transmission-gearing comprising a frame bers encircling the other. end of the crankshaft and revoluble thereby on an axis coincident with, that of said shaft, and powere transmitting means connecting the running gear and a revoluble member of the trans- 'fixedto the frame of the,engine, and memmission-gearing, substantially as and'for' the purpose described. I r

In testimony whereof, I hav e' hereunto signed my name in thepresence of two attesting witnesses at Syracuse, in theco'unty of Onondaga, in the State of New York-this IOth-day of March, 1904;

JOHN WILKIN$QN,

Witnesses I I D. LAVINE,

B} CARTWRIGHT. 

